Sentencing delayed for murderer with devil horn tattoos

The scheduled sentencing of a convicted murderer tattooed with devilís horns was adjourned Wednesday when the suspect was inadvertently kept at a state prison. The delay upset the victimís family.

Joseph Reiner, 29, formerly of Fraser, was set to be sentenced Wednesday in Macomb County Circuit Court for the February 2011 stabbing and subsequent death of Joann Eisenhardt of Macomb Township.

But Reiner had been taken to a state prison in Ionia because he was on parole at the time of the incident and since his arrest has been charged with stabbing a fellow prisoner in Jackson.

Macomb prosecutors learned late Tuesday that he could not be brought in time and didnít notify family members. More than 20 family members, relatives and friends of Eisenhardt showed up to attend the sentencing but were told it wouldnít be held.

Pamela Eisenhardt, the 69-year-old victimís daughter-in-law, said she was upset with the development because of the emotions and stress of the case as well as several people taking off days from work to attend.

ďToday was a day for closure; now we have to wait,Ē she said. ďThey knew about this yesterday and didnít notify us? Thatís unacceptable.Ē

Her husband, Howard Eisenhardt, planned to speak in court Wednesday and plans to return for the new sentencing date of Nov. 14 by Judge Peter J. Maceroni in the Mount Clemens courtroom.

Reiner in September was convicted of first-degree, felony murder and home invasion following a trial and will be sentenced to life without parole. Reiner was on parole at the time for a 2006 home invasion and assault.

After his arrest, he had a fellow Macomb County Jail inmate ink horns on his forehead. The tattoos were covered up with makeup during his trial.

Reiner broke into Eisenhardtís home on Fairchild near 22 Mile Road and stabbed her twice in the neck. She initially survived the brutal attack but died the following September from complications from the stabbing.

Reiner on the day of the stabbing got a ride to 15 Mile Road and Gratiot Avenue, from where he took a bus to Eastpointe and pawned Eisenhardtís stolen costume jewelry for $2, a transaction that tied him to the crime.

He was captured three days later after he led police on a chase in New Jersey and New York in a car he stole from Grosse Pointe.